A one-week-old formula-fed baby typically eats 1 to 2 ounces per feeding, every 2 to 3 hours. That works out to roughly 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period, for a daily total of about 12 to 24 ounces. The range is wide because every newborn is different, and your baby’s appetite will shift from day to day as they grow.
Why Feedings Are So Small and Frequent
At one week old, your baby’s stomach is about the size of an apricot, holding roughly 1.5 to 2 ounces at a time. That tiny capacity is why newborns need to eat so often. They physically can’t take in enough at one sitting to go long stretches between meals. If your baby drains a 2-ounce bottle and still seems hungry, it’s fine to offer a little more, but most one-week-olds are satisfied with 1 to 2 ounces.
Because formula digests a bit more slowly than breast milk, some formula-fed babies land closer to 8 feedings per day rather than 12. Others cluster their feedings, eating every 2 hours for part of the day and stretching closer to 3 hours at other times. Both patterns are normal at this age.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Hungry
Crying is actually a late hunger signal. Well before that point, a hungry newborn will turn their head toward the bottle (called rooting), bring their hands to their mouth, pucker or smack their lips, or clench their fists. Feeding at these early cues is easier on both of you, since a calm baby latches onto the bottle nipple more smoothly than one who’s already upset.
When your baby is full, you’ll notice the opposite: their mouth closes, their hands relax and open, and they turn their head away from the bottle. Respect those signals even if there’s formula left. Letting your baby decide when to stop helps prevent overfeeding and teaches healthy self-regulation from the start.
Tracking Whether Your Baby Gets Enough
Counting ounces is one way to gauge intake, but diaper output is more reliable at this age. By the end of the first week, your baby should produce at least 6 large, heavy wet diapers a day and around 4 or more bowel movements. Fewer wet diapers than that can signal dehydration and warrants a call to your pediatrician.
Weight is the other key metric. Formula-fed newborns typically lose about 3.7% of their birth weight in the first few days, which is normal. Most begin gaining steadily after that, putting on roughly 1% of their birth weight per day once the initial dip recovers. Some healthy babies take up to 17 days to fully return to birth weight, but weight should at least be trending upward by day 6. Your baby’s one-week or two-week checkup is designed to catch any issues here.
Signs You May Be Overfeeding
It’s natural to worry your baby isn’t getting enough, but overfeeding is also possible with formula. If your baby consistently spits up large amounts after feeds, seems uncomfortable or unusually fussy right after eating, or regularly finishes a bottle and then appears bloated or gassy, you may be offering more than their stomach can handle. Try preparing smaller bottles (1 to 1.5 ounces) and offering more if your baby still shows hunger cues after finishing. This wastes less formula and gives your baby time to register fullness.
What Changes Over the Coming Weeks
Feeding amounts increase quickly. By the end of the first month, most babies take 3 to 4 ounces per feeding and eat slightly less often, roughly every 3 to 4 hours. The shift happens gradually. You’ll likely notice your baby draining bottles that used to leave leftovers, or seeming hungry again sooner than usual. Those are signs to bump up each bottle by half an ounce and see if that satisfies them.
There’s no single “correct” number of ounces for every baby at every age. Growth spurts, sleep patterns, and individual metabolism all play a role. The best approach at one week old is to follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues, aim for that 1 to 2 ounce range per feeding, and confirm adequate intake through steady diaper output and weight gain at checkups.